if you’re a regular reader, you know that those convicted of murder in the 1970s were sentenced under different guidelines today, allowing them to apply for parole on a regular basis.

the register star has asked readers four times this year to have their voice heard, for or against, in the parole hearings of robert henry lower, curtis brownell, ted bacino and simon peter nelson. thousands of you fill out our forms.

you can’t read the article, published tuesday, unless you’re a subscriber. but one quote says it all here:

Cunningham says the approach is a clear public service: “It is our way of helping residents.” 

if you’re a longtime reader of our sports section in print and online, you know the name mike nadel.

did you notice you now can find his blog, “the baldest truth,” at rrstar.com under the blogs index?

so dig his takes on the cubs, the white sox, the bulls, the bears and whatever else he might tackle.

note: he just posted something from a loyal reader in rockford!

but you can’t eat a car!

so….just a reminder that for the independence day holiday, you can find a number of recipes with us.

for example, relish magazine will be inserted in wednesday’s newspaper, and you can find a searchable database anytime online.

or you can try cupcakes and sangria, thanks to our go section.

or if you have the guts, you can try the spicy red river burger recipe i made for rockford woman.

But there’s been a handful of issues in the last week that piqued your interest. Take a look at what others are saying:

At vigil Graves family promises to push for answers (13)
Mix of drugs alcohol may have killed Rockford man (12)
Beaman experiences freedom: Chewing gum, cell phones, sunrises (9)
Four robbed at gunpoint in Rockford home invasion (10)
Challenges ahead for concealed carry (11)
Machesney man on motorcycle struck by gunfire (15)
Rockford police: Man dies after domestic disturbance arrest (64)
More trust needed in our Constitution (4)

Christie Bobbitt

Here’s a great quote from the West Des Moines, Iowa, woman who got back the key member of her large nativity: “Seven months later, they told me it was a cold case. We were going to buy a whole other manger scene because you can’t just buy the baby Jesus. But who needs six kings, two Josephs and two Marys?”

Stick with it till the end. It’s worth it cause you’ll get to watch a bunch of New Yorkers singing.

And, no, I don’t own an iPhone. And this musical didn’t make me want to buy one. I just love the creativity.

Now, they ask if we can take the “newspaper way” into the building.

Their wide-eyed wonder over what we do here each day made me smile. Whether it’s putting news and information in print or via the World Wide Web, we do make a difference each and every day in the community. And, yes, I’m sure there’s some snarky response to that. But love us or hate us, we are the primary source of news and information in this community. And that means something.

Here’s a shot of my boys at my sister’s April wedding.

Abe, 5, and Luke, 6

You’re also talking about the man who died in police custody after a domestic-disturbance arrest.